The multilingual pop star has been reinterpreting classic songs as she makes her way through Spain and Latin America
Every night of Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism Tour has come with a sweet surprise: The singer has covered a song tied to the city or country she’s isiting. On the United States leg of the tour, she pulled from artists native to each state, and internationally, she’s leaned into classics from the countries she’s in.
“This was my idea. It came about purely because I had done a song for the American Country Music Awards with Chris Stapleton, and it was so much fun that I proposed it to the band and to the team: How fun would it be if every night we do a different song?” she told Variety last in October. “And everyone was like, well that’s quite ambitious.”
Throughout her run in Latin America this winter, she’s tapped into iconic songs from the region, putting her own spin on them, and even giving speeches in the local language. That’s been particularly impressive from the pop star, who has chronicled her journey learning Spanish and practicing with fans. “It’s very nerve-wracking!” the singer said. “Especially when we we’re doing them in different languages, that’s definitely — my God, my playlist was on loop, all I was doing was looking at the lyrics and listening over and over for intonations and accents and how to try and perfect things in Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Czech.”
As the Radical Optimism Tour comes to a close at Mexico City’s Estadio GNP Seguros in early December, here’s every Spanish- and Portuguese-language song she’s performed in Spain and Latin America.
“Héroe” by Enrique Iglesias in Madrid
Image Credit: Redferns for ABA Dua Lipa brought it back to 2001 during her visit to Madrid on May 11. During her first night at Movistar Arena, she performed “Héroe,” the Spanish-language (and arguably more emotional version) of Enrique Iglesias’ hit song “Hero,” hitting every note.
“I am very grateful to be here,” she said in perfect Spanish before the performance. “The next song I want to sing for you is a little different, because every night I wanted to sing a song from a local artist. If you know it, sing it with me.” —T.M.
“Me Gustas Tú” by Manu Chao in Madrid
Image Credit: Redferns for ABA “Me gustan los aviones, me gustas tú!” Lipa brought a little Latin reggae to Madrid during her second show in Spain in May. For her surprise cover on May 12, the pop star performed a rendition of Manu Chau’s “Me Gustas Tú.”
Dressed in a bright red, lace bodysuit, the pop diva danced around the stage delivering the love lyrics and its infectious Español-Français chorus. “¿Qué voy a hacer? Je ne sais pas!” —T.M.
“De Música Ligera” by Soda Stereo in Buenos Aires
Image Credit: Getty Images for ABA Dua showed she’d been paying attention to the biggest songs in Argentina when she arrived in the country for a set of two back-to-back shows. During her first night, she delighted the crowd by diving into the rock en español anthem “De Música Ligera,” by the iconic band Soda Stereo.
The entire crowd joined in on the soaring chorus as Lipa channeled her best Gustavo Cerati. Just before she launched into the song, she told the crowd in Spanish, “I’ve learned that rock music is very strong here and I found this song — I think everyone knows it.” —J.L.
“Tu Misterioso Alguien” by Miranda! in Buenos Aires
Image Credit: Getty Images for ABA During her second night in Buenos Aires at the River Plate stadium, the singer shocked the crowd by performing a cover of “Tu Misterioso Alguien” by electropop duo Miranda! The song offered a different side of the country’s music and came just after she’d performed the rock staple “De Musica Ligera” the night before.
“I can’t believe this moment,” Dua said onstage before performing the song. “I have a surprise. It’s a song from this country I am in. I found a song by a group that I now love.”
The track is the standout from their 2009 album, and has been having a resurgence in Argentina over the last year. “It’s a version that we didn’t even dream of imagining,” the duo, comprising Alejandro Sergi and Juliana Gattas, said of the cover. “We’re in complete shock!”
“Tu Falta de Querer” by Mon Laferte in Santiago
Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for ABA Dua Lipa channeled a Chilean femme fatale during her first show in Santiago, Chile on Nov. 11. For her surprise song that day, the pop queen performed a rendition of Mon Laferte’s heart-wrenching hit, “Tu Falta de Querer.”
“It’s a song I love, but it breaks my heart every time I hear it. I guess that’s where its beauty lies,” Lipa said onstage. After seeing videos of the performance online, Laferte tweeted Dua, writing: “Dua Lipa Te amo.” —T.M.
“El Duelo” by La Ley in Santiago
Image Credit: Getty Images In Santiago, Dua did something a little unexpected by going for a surprising ballad: For her cover, she belted out “El Duelo,” the 1995 heartbreak song popularized by Chilean band La Ley alongside singer Ely Guerra. A live version of the track from La Ley’s MTV Unplugged session blew up in the Nineties — and served as inspiration for Dua’s version. She even perfected Beto Cuevas’ roar of “tiernamente!” toward the end of the song. —J.L.
“Magalenha” and “Margarida Perfumada” with Carlinhos Brown and Caetano Veloso in Sao Paulo
Image Credit: Getty Images for ABA Dua Lipa brought some Brazilian icons onstage when she visited Brazil. During her Nov. 15 show in São Paulo, Lipa welcomed Carlinhos Brown and Caetano Veloso to perform together.
“I came here to feel this intense passion of you beautiful people,” Dua said onstage. “This magical city, this adrenaline that just won’t go away.”
First, Brown joined the singer to perform a duet of the batucada classic “Magalenha,” surrounded by Brown’s percussionists as he led the dancing crowd. “I can’t hear it!” Dua said during “Magalenha,” nailing the fastest verse and urging the crowd to sing back.
After that, Lipa joked “we’re not done yet!” as she welcomed Tropicália legend Veloso onstage for a duet of “Margarido Perfumada,” while Brown played drums. —T.M.
“Mas Que Nada” by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 in Rio de Janeiro
Image Credit: Getty Images Dua loved Brazil so much she ended up staying an extra week between tour dates, even squeezing in a Fluminense vs. Flamengo clásico match.
After several days on the beaches of Rio, the pop star returned to the stage at MorumBIS on Nov. 22, where she worked in another Brazilian cover: the bossa nova classic “Mas Que Nada,” made famous by Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66 and written by Jorge Ben.
The song was reimagined in 2006 with the Black Eyed Peas for Mendes’ album Timeless, incorporating a sample of the group’s hit “Hey Mama.” —T.M.
“Cariñito” by Los Hijos del Sol with Mauricio Mesones in Lima
Image Credit: Getty Images Dua’s stadium show in Lima, Peru didn’t just get a cover — it got a full-on duet with Peruvian cumbia star Mauricio Mesones. During her Nov. 25 stop, Lipa brought Mesones onstage for a performance of the cumbia classic “Cariñito,” originally by Los Hijos del Sol and recorded by Mesnoes’ band Bareto in 2009.
“Lima last night was PERFECT! Thank you for all that beautiful energy last night at my first time in your country!!!!” Lipa wrote on Instagram. “Thank you @mauriciomesones for joining me and making it even more special.” —T.M.
“Antología” by Shakira in Bogota
Image Credit: Getty Images for ABA One of Shakira’s most enduring ballads is “Antología,” a sweet look back at an old love that she wrote in the Nineties. Even at her shows today, it makes for one of the most emotional moments of the night, with crowds wailing every word back to her — and Dua decided to pay tribute to the classic by performing it at during her own set in Bogota.
The cover quickly went viral, with fans celebrating the two pop stars. Shakira even shared a clip on social media, writing, “I’m so touched to hear my song in Dua’s voice, in the same city where I wrote it years ago. See how music brings us together? A girl from London and another from Barranquilla! Thanks @dualipa! What a treat!” Dua seemed thrilled and responded, “It was a beautiful night, and I loved singing your song!!! I love you!!!” —J.L.
